The Professional Dental Hygienist - Key Concepts (Lecture Notes)

A set of practice-style Q&A flashcards covering history, roles, settings, supervision, clinical services, advanced practice, and the Dental Hygiene Process of Care from the lecture notes.

What is prognosis?

A forecast of the probable course and outcome of the treatment of a condition or disease.

What does supervision refer to in dental practice?

The legal relationship between the dentist and dental team members in practice; the type of supervision required is defined by each state practice act.

Who is considered the Father of Dental Hygiene?

Dr. Alfred C. Fones.

Who became the first Dental Hygienist?

Irene Newman.

What is a primary theme of early dental hygiene history?

Prevention rather than treatment; education is a primary role.

Name the roles of the dental hygienist.

Education, assessment, diagnosis, prevention, therapy, research, administration.

List common work settings for dental hygienists.

General and specialty dental practices; public health programs; research centers; professional education institutions; hospitals and residential care facilities; federal programs (including armed forces); dental corporate industries.

What is a DH Practice Act?

State laws with rules and regulations for supervision and scope of practice, which differ by state, including collaborative practice initiatives for underserved areas.

What are the three types of clinical services in dentistry?

Primary (prevention to avoid disease), Secondary (treatment of early disease to prevent progression), Tertiary (replace lost tissues to restore function).

What does Primary prevention aim to do?

Measures carried out so disease does not occur (e.g., fluoridation of water).

What does Secondary prevention involve?

Treatment of early disease to prevent further progression (e.g., removing calculus and biofilm in periodontal therapy).

What does Tertiary prevention involve?

Methods to replace lost tissues to bring function as close to normal as possible (e.g., implants, bridges, partial dentures).

What are key components of patient education in dental hygiene?

Daily self-care, regular appointments, educational and clinical services, mutually dependent and inseparable relationship, scientific information, public awareness.

What are some Dental Hygiene Specialties and related pathways?

Continuing education; private practice in orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, and periodontics; bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.

Where can dental hygienists work outside traditional practice?

Schools, public health settings, Head Start programs, nursing homes, free clinics, community centers.

What does Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner/Advanced Dental Therapist refer to?

Minnesota’s 2009 master’s level degree program for advanced dental therapists serving underserved populations; requires collaborative management with a supervising dentist; CODA accreditation standards.

What is the clinical role of the Advanced Dental Therapist?

Caries removal, placement and finishing; composite/resin and amalgam; space maintainers; stainless steel crowns and temporaries; pulpotomy; pulp vitality testing; simple extractions of primary teeth; collaboration with a dentist.

What impact has the Advanced Dental Therapist had in Minnesota?

Increases in patients served, reduced waiting times, decreased travel time, potential ER visit reductions, higher productivity, and improved patient satisfaction.

What are the overall and personal goals in the Professional Practice objectives?

Overall goals: attain and maintain oral health; aid individuals and groups; self-assessment toward service excellence. Personal goals: ethics, interpersonal relationships, lifelong learning, professional memberships.

What are the clinical practice goals for dental hygiene?

Evidence-based knowledge; personalize and adapt procedures; plan and carry out interventions; care for special needs patients; adhere to universal precautions.

What are the seven components of the Dental Hygiene Process of Care?

Assess, Diagnose, Plan, Implement, Evaluate, Document, plus initial framework for individualized care.

What is the purpose of the Dental Hygiene Process of Care?

Provide a framework for individualized needs, identify causative and risk factors, and reduce, eliminate, and prevent disease.

What does Assessment include in the Dental Hygiene Process of Care?

First component: subjective data (patient’s perspective, e.g., pain level) and objective data (observable data, e.g., vitals).

What is Dental Hygiene Diagnosis?

Critical thinking to interpret assessments, identify health behaviors, justify the care plan, and define responsibilities in patient care.

What is the Dental Hygiene Care Plan?

A plan presented to the dentist for integration with the comprehensive care plan and to the patient for understanding and informed consent.

What happens in the Implementation stage of care?

Activation phase: implementing treatment based on the treatment plan.

What is evaluated in the Evaluation stage?

Whether the patient needs retreatment, referral, or continuing care.

What should be included in Documentation for dental hygiene care?

Assessment data, diagnosis, care plan, treatments, patient education, and evaluation; should be condensed and consistent.